Flying-machine.



H. JORDAN.

' FLYING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED 001215. 1910.

1,025,093. Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

awe Mo e 5577mm r/Zrziaw COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON. n. c.

H. JORDAN.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 15, 1910.

1,025,093. v Patnted Apr. 30, 1912.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Ear/rm aii'dm COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO.,WASHINGTON, n, C.

H. JORDAN.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.15, 1910.

1,025,093. Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

. 4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

Herman dbmzm/ WW 5 Y la COLUMBIA FMNOORAPH c0" WASHINGTON. n c.

' H. JORDAN.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.15, 1910. 1 ,O25,093. Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

HERMAN JORDANyOF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 15, 1910. Serial No. 587,301.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lmown that I, HERMAN JORDAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flying machines of the heavier-than-air class and bi-plane type, and particularly to machines including means for both automatic and manual lateral control.

The objects of the invention are to provide simple and effective steering means for sensitively steering the machine horizontally and'vertically, balancing the machine laterally and longitudinally and banking the machine in making a turn; to provide a balancing means which will operate automatically, as well as a balancing and steering means under manual control; and to provide a machine which has a high degree of inherent automatic longitudinal stability and in which the cont-rolling devices are constructed and arranged for ready and convenient operation.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a flying machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 1 is an end elevation. Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal section through the body portion of the machine.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals 1 and 2 represent the upper and lower supporting planes or surfaces of the machine, which may be of any suitable construction, and which are connected in the usual manner by vertical stanchions or struts 3, the said stanchions and the frames of the planes formingthe main frame of the machine, which may include guy wires or bracing connections of any preferred type between the parts. 1

Extending from the rear of the main frame is a tail frame 4:.c0mprising pairs of superposed side bars 5 secured to the frames of the respective planes and extending rearwardly in convergent relation therefrom, the pairs of bars being also convergently arranged and connected adjacent their rear ends by cross pieces 6. Brackets 7 depend from the front portion of the lower plane on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the machine and are pivotally connected by links 8 with carrier bars 9 having reduced circular upper ends carrying coiled cushioning springs 10 and movable through Patented Apr. so, 1912.

ing a landing. The cross pieces 6 upon the I tail frame carry a standard 145 on which is mounted a rear or tail wheel 15 operating to support such portion of the machine in launching and landing operations.

Any suitable means for driving the machine may be employed. As shown in the present instance, reversely rotating propellers 16 are mounted upon shafts 17 at the rear of and on a line between the planes 1 and 2, and the said shafts are in gear, through driving chains or belts 18, one of which is crossed, with the shaft of a motor '19. Arranged between the ends of the main frame are main balancing and steering planes 20 which are mounted to turn vertically on horizontal axes journaled in bearings on bars 21 secured to certain of the struts 3. A chain or cable 22 passes from front to rear over a guide pulley 23 arranged above each plane 20 and is secured at its front and rear ends to the corresponding edges of said plane, the pulley 23 being suitably secured to the underside of the plane 1. v Secured at its ends to the front and rear edges of the plane 20 is a second chain or cable 24 which passes through a guide opening 25 formed in the plane 2 and engages an actuating sprocket wheel or pulley 26 on a shaft 27 journaled in suitable bearings 28 and extending longitudinally beneath the plane 2. The inner ends of the respective shafts 27 carry sprocket wheels 29 which are connected by chains 30 with quadrants or other suitable gear elements 31 adapted to be operated by-levers 32, whereby motion may be communicated to the chains 30 to simultaneously swing the planes 20 in the same or opposite directions or for independently adjusting the planes in either direction, as will be readily understood. By

means of the planes 20 the machine may not only be steered vertically but steered laterally through simple and effective means under the complete control of the pilot or aviator. Also the planes 20 may be employed in the operation of banking the machine in making a turn. The levers are each provided with a spring actuated pawl or dog 33 to engage a rack 34 on the frame, whereby each lever may be secured in adjusted position. The levers are arranged in juxta-position to the pilots seat 35 which is disposed upon a suitable framework or platform 36 arranged in the central longitudinal line of the machine and in advance of the lower main plane. I

Extending above each end of the main plane 1 is a suitable frame structure composed of standards 37 and braces 38, the said structure being arranged in rear of the central longitudinal line of the planes. Supported by each of these frame structures is a downwardly and rearwardly curved stabilizing wing or plane 39 composed of a suitable framework and fabric stretched thereon, the front end of the wing being fixed to the supporting structure, and the rear or free end thereof being extended beyond the line of the rear edges of the supporting planes and free to be warped or flexed in a vertical direction. The rear ends of the respective stabilizing wings are connected by cords or cables 40 passing through openings 41 in the plane 2 with weighted arms 42 fixed to the ends of a shaft 43 extending in parallel relation with the shafts 27 and in rear thereof, the said shaft 43 being journaled at its outer ends in bearings 44 and its center in spaced bearings 45. On

the said shaft between the spaced bearings is rigidly mounted a worm wheel 46 mesh ing with a worm gear or pinion 47 on the upper arm of a bracket 48. The bracket 48 carries a skid or runner 49 and extends in a fore and aft direction parallel with the line of flight, so that the bracket and skid will hang pendent at a point centrally between the lateral extremities of the main frame. The bracket 48 is journaled to swing laterally in the lower ends of a pair of bracket arms 50 arranged in front and rear of the worm wheel and gear. By this means the said bracket and skid are adapted to perform the function of a laterally swinging pendulum for transmitting motion through the worm gearing to the shaft 43 when the machine swings laterally out of the normal balance in either direction, thereby affecting the stabilizing wings to secure the return of themachine to a normal balanced position. The arms 42 are arranged at different angles on the shaft 43 so that when the shaft is turned in one direction, the cord 40, connected with one wing 39, will be re laxed to allow the said wing to straighten out or move upwardly from its normal position, while the cord 40 connected with the other wing 39 will be pulled upon to draw down the rear edge of the said wing, the free edge of the wing at the ascending side of the machine being elevated, while the free edge of the wing at the descending side of the machine is depressed, resulting in the restoration of the machine to a normal horizontal position, in an obvious manner.

The controlling mechanism is manually operated, and the wings 39 stand in normal position when the skid frame is perpendicular. The parts may be locked in this position by a dog or other suitable locking device 51 adapted to engage the wheel 46, which operation is carried out'in launching and landing, in which it is essential to have the skid rigidly secured against lateral. movement. The said actuating controlling mechanism may, however, by means of the locking device 51, be thrown out of operation when the machine is in flight, as will be readily understood.

Secured to the bars 5 of the tail frame 4 is a rear balancing or tail plane 57, which balances the machine in a fore and aft direction and gives increased inherent longitudinal stability to the machine. This plane is generally of the same form as the supporting planes and extends longitudinally at rightangles to the line of-fiight, the ends of the plane forming flexible portions, the corners 58 and 59 of which are adapted to be bent or warped in a vertical plane at an angle to the line of flight. Pivotally mounted to swing laterally on the standard 14 is a vertical rudder 60 from the free rear end of which lead branch cords or cables 61 and 62 to a pair of main operating cords or cables 63 and 64, which cords or cables 63 and 64 extend rearwardly over suitable guide pulleys 65 on the frame 4 from a point beneath the lower main plane in divergent relation rearwardly on the opposite sides of the rudder 60, and are crossed in rear thereof, the cord 63 being connected with the tip 59 of the tail plane 57, while the cord 64 is connected with the tip 58 of the tail plane 57. The forward ends of the cords are connected with opposite ends of an intermediately pivoted transverse foot lever 65 mounted upon the platform 56 in advance of the aviators seat 35. It will thus be seen that when the vertical rudder is swung in one direction or the other to steer the machine laterally the tips of the rear tail plane will be warped to bank the machine for making a turn and to secure proper list at all times in horizontal steering movements of the machine.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is 1. A flying machine including a main frame, a supporting surface carried thereby,

a tail frame, a curved transversely extending stabilizing plane fixed to the rear end of the tail frame, said plane having flexible rear corner portions, a vertical rudder mounted upon the tail frame adjacent to and in advance of said stabilizing plane, guides upon the sides of the tail frame in advance of said rudder, a pivoted operating device on the main frame, motion controlling cords leading from said operating device through said guide to the flexible corner portions of the stabilizing plane, said cords being arranged in cross relation between the guides and plane, and branch cords connected at their forward ends with said main cords at a point in advance of the crossing point of said main cords and at their rear ends with the rudder in rear of said crossing point of the main cords, whereby the flexible corners of the stabilizing plane may be simultaneously flexed upward and downward and the rudder turned.

2. A flying machine including a main frame, a supporting surface carried thereby, vertically swinging balancing planes pivoted intermediate their front and rear edges and arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the frame, longitudinally extending shafts carrying sprocket wheels, guides upon the main frame above the balancing planes, looped upper cords engaging said guides and connected with the front and rear edges of the balancing planes, looped lower cords connected with the front and rear edges of the balancing planes and including chain sections engaging the sprocket wheels on said longitudinally extending shafts, and sets of gearing for independently turning said shafts to adjust the balancing planes.

3. A flying machine comprising a main frame, a supporting surface carried thereby, stabilizing planes fixed to the main frame above the rear portion of the supporting surface, said stabilizing planes having resilient rear edges, a shaft mounted upon the main frame and provided with arms arranged at different angles, cords connecting said arms with the resilient portions of the respective stabilizing planes, a laterally swinging pendulum, and gearing between the pendulum and shaft.

4. A flying machine comprising a main frame, a supporting surface carried thereby, elevated stabilizing planes having flexible rear edges, a shaft mounted on the main frame, arms arranged at different angles on said shaft, cords connecting said arms with the flexible edges of the stabilizing planes, a skid carrying bracket forming a laterally swinging pendulum pivotally mounted on the frame, gearing between said bracket and the shaft, and means for locking said gearing against movement.

5. A flying machine including a main frame, a supporting surface carried thereby, stabilizing planes rigidly mounted at their front ends above said supporting surface and having'flexible rear ends extending rearwardly beyond said supporting surface, a transversely extending shaft journaled on the main frame, a pendulum mounted to swing transversely of the main frame, gearing between the pendulum and shaft for rotating the latter forwardly or rearwardly on opposite swinging movements of said pendulum, weighted arms connected with the shaft, cords connect-ing said weighted arms with the flexible ends of the stabilizing planes, said arms being arranged at different angles upon the shaft, and means for fixing the pendulum against movement.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HERMAN JORDAN.

Witnesses:

LOUIE LENHARD, NIELS N. PETERSEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

